N
254 days ago

Have you read Auck CC's LTP (long term plan)? Do you want to lose our Stadium?

Noel from Coatesville

It's a massive read! I've spent over 2 hours in 2 separate sessions, and still not completed.
BUT, the most pressing thing IMO is the loss of our Stadium.
Councillor John Watson has explained the situation:
" a proposal that could involve the demolition of North Harbour Stadium and the sale of the land. That proposal is being advanced by Tataki Auckland Unlimited (the council CCO which has managed the stadium since 2014).
If adopted this would mean the entire northern region of Auckland will never again have a stadium capable of hosting any major sporting, cultural or music event as occurred regularly under previous management (and this for the fastest growing node in Auckland with a population fast approaching 500,000).
By stark contrast from 1997 -2014 the stadium was managed by the North Harbour Stadium Trust. That Trust was very successful in attracting a wide variety of content to the stadium including All Black and Kiwi rugby league tests, NRL games, Super Rugby games, FIFA matches, an A-League soccer franchise and a whole variety of concerts and cultural events. The Trust also built up a healthy reserve fund to ensure the ongoing maintenance and capital replacement.
Around 2014, however, the Trust was persuaded by council directors that the transfer of the stadium into the new ‘Super City’ CCO would be in the best interests of the stadium going forward.

Since that time, however, the original trustees, along with many in the North Harbour community, have watched in dismay as TAU have not only failed to attract anything like the content that characterised the performance of the previous Trust but have severely compromised the use of the ground with some disastrous operational decisions.
The most graphic example of these failures was the $2.5 million spent in 2019 demolishing a large section of the western half of the ground to accommodate a baseball franchise that subsequently went bust owing money. In so doing TAU effectively removed the ability of North Harbour Stadium to attract major sporting events.
Remarkably no subsequent effort has been made by TAU to reinstate the western half of the ground despite there being a relatively straightforward fix - so now half of the stadium looks like an ordinary suburban ground while the other side retains the look and facilities of a modern stadium, the equal of any in NZ in fact.

Instead of addressing these glaring shortcomings for which they have been solely responsible Tataki Auckland Unlimited are now promoting the demolition of Auckland’s newest stadium, ironically one they themselves trumpeted a few years back as “the country’s finest mid-size community stadium.”

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1 day ago

What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.

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1 day ago

Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.

This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.

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Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
  • 84.4% Yes
    84.4% Complete
  • 14.1% No
    14.1% Complete
  • 1.5% Other - I'll share below
    1.5% Complete
1242 votes
11 hours ago

Riddle Me This: Can You Out-Smart Yesterday’s Champ?

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

How can the number four be half of five?

Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.

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